Metal shingle support clip



April 1968 N. c. STEVENS 3,380,214

METAL SHINGLE SUPPORT CLIP Filed April 11, 1966 2 Sheeis-Sheet 1INVENTOR. 34 NORMAN C. STEVENS A ril 30, 1968 N. c. STEVENS METALSHINGLE SUPPORT CLIP 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 11, 1966 NORMAN C.STEVENS United States Patent 3,380,214 METAL SHINGLE SUPPORT CLIP NormanC. Stevens, San Diego, Calif, assignor to Perma- Shake ManufacturingCorp., National City, Calif., a corporation of California Filed Apr. 11,1966, Ser. No. 541,556 Claims. (Cl. 52-478) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREThis support clipfor shingle panels has as primary features the additionof means for snapping the clip into place on the roof purlins withoutrequiring tools or bending of the clips, and means to support theoverlaid shingle panels so that they may be walked on without damage,the latter means involving a vertical web portion on the clip with atread flange on its upper edge to engage the undersurface of and tosupporrt any shingle panel laid over the clip.

The present invention relates to roof structures and specifically to ametal shingle support clip.

One type of roof structure in present use utilizes metal shingle panelspressed to simulate wood shingles, each panel being large enough torepresent several shingles to simplify assembly. The shingle panels haveinterfitting flanged edges to ensure Weatherproof joints and are appliedover a frame of metal or wood, the shingles normally being secured byscrew, clips, or other such means. Unless an excessive amount offramework is used the shingles are unsupported between their joints andwill not withstand heavy pressure loads, such as that induced by aperson walking on the roof.

The primary object of this invention, therefore, is to provide a clipwhich locks the shingle panels in place and also supports the shinglesat any desired location.

Another object of this invention is to provide a shingle support clipwhich is applied and snapped into place by hand, making it possible toshingle an entire roof without tools, except for final trim.

Another object of this invention is to provide a shingle support clipwhich is easily fabricated from sheet metal and is sufliciently low incost to permit its use in considerable quantity, so that overall supportof a roof will permit walking on shingles of thin and lightconstruction.

The clip and its use in roof structure are illustrated in the drawings,in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a portion of roof structure, partiallyshingled;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a typical shingle panel;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of my support clip;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 44 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 5 is a further enlarged sectional view, similar to a portion ofFIGURE 4, showing the method of applying the support clip.

Similar characters of reference indicate similar or identical elementsand portions throughout the specification and throughout the views ofthe drawing.

The basic roof structure includes rafters 10, suitably inclined forrun-off, with longitudinally disposed purlins 12 secured to the raftersin any suitable manner. Purlins 12 are metal channels open to the upwardside of the roof and have upper supporrt flanges 14 on which theshingles rest.

Each shingle panel 16 has an elongated, rectangular surface panel 18pressed to provide ridges and grooves simulating the grain of severalshingles arranged in a row. One longitudinal edge of the panel has adownwardly turned perpendicular front wall 20 also pressed to simulatethe exposed edges of shingles, the lower edge of the front 3,380,214Patented Apr. 30, 1968 See wall having a rearwardly turned retainingflange 22. The other longitudinal edge of the panel has an upwardlyreturn folded hook flange 24 forming a narrow retaining channel 26.While the specific characteristics of the shingle panel may varysomewhat, the basic flange arrangement will be as illustrated andcooperate with the support clips in assembly. Purlins 12 are spacedapart at a distance equal to the transverse width of the shingle panel16, so that the interfitting edges of the overlapped rows of shinglesfall on top of support flanges 14.

The support clip has a vertical web portion 32 of a length substantiallyequal to the spacing between purlins 12, and is tapered in heightlongitudinally to conform to the transverse cross section of the shinglepanel 16. That is, the forward end 34 of web portion 32 has a heightequal to the height of front wall 20 plus a dimension slightly less thanthe vertical height of a purlin 12, while the rear end 36 is reduced toa height slightly less than the height of a purlin. Forward end 34 has anotch 38 cut in from the end to leave a lower prong 40 with ahorizontally inturned stabilizing tip 42 at the forward end. The prong40 fits into the purlin below the support flange 14 and tip 42 preventsthe support clip from rocking. Along the upper edge of Web portion 32 isa horizontal tread flange 44 which supports the surface panel 18 underload. A clearance is indicated between the surface panel and the treadflange, since the panel will not rest firmly on the tread flange due tothe undulation of the ribs and grooves therein. Under load, however, thepanel will only deflect a fraction of an inch before finding firmsupport on the clip. The forward end of tread flange 44 is turneddownwardly to provide a locking flange 46, the lower edge of which isspaced above the prong 40.

At the rear end 36 of web portion 32 is a laterally turned stop 48 whichfits closely against the purlin 12, the tread flange 44 having arearward extension 50 which rests on top of support flange 14. The rearend of extension 50 is turned downwardly to form a bowed resilientlocking tongue 52, which has a rearwardly flared lower tip 54 tofacilitate snapping the tongue down over support flange 14 and lock thepurlin between the locking tongue and stop 48. Extension 50 isreinforced by indented flutes 56 extending longitudinally into the treadflange 44 to spread the supporting loads of the clip resting on thepurlin and prevent deformation of the extension.

With the purlins and rafters assembled to form the roof frame the roofis shingled by first applying a row of support clips along the lower orfront edge of the roof. Each support clip 30 is inserted with its prong40 under the support flange 14 of the front purlin 12, then the clip ispushed down at the rear to snap the tongue 52 over the support flange ofthe next purlin, with the support clip perpendicular between thepurlins. A row of support clips are applied at suitable spacings toposition one clip under each end of a shingle panel and two or threespaced under the surface panel. The shingle panels 16 are then placed inthe first row by inserting the retaining flange 22 of each panel underthe locking flanges 46 of the support clips and resting the rear edge ofthe panel on the tread flange extensions 50 over the next purlin. Whenthe row of shingles is complete the next row of support clips 30 isadded, staggered laterally from those in the first row. Each supportclip is applied as indicated in broken line in FIGURE 5, with the clipraised at the rear to allow the locking flange 46 to be engaged in theretaining channel 26 of the shingle panel already applied. The supportclip is then swung downwardly so that prong 40 passes under the purlinsupport flange 14 and tongue 52 is snapped down over the support flangeof the next purlin, as in the full line position.

A further row of shingle panels are now applied by inserting theretaining flange 22 of each panel under the locking flanges 46 of thesupport clips and into the retaining channel 26 of the already appliedshingle panel, as in FIGURE 4. The rear edge of the last applied shinglepanel then rests on the extension 50 of the last applied support clips.Successive shingles are added by inserting support clips in each rowthen adding the shingles, as described above, until the roof is covered.All of this can be accomplished without tools, although if the lockingtongues 52 are particularly tight fitting over the purlins a hammer ormallet may be used to seat the support clips.

In each row the shingle panels are interlocked with those in the nextrow by the flanges 22 fitting into the retaining channels 26, theconnected edges being held firmly on the purlins by the locking actionbetween the prongs 40 and locking flanges 46 straddling the purlinsupport flanges 14. The locking flanges 46 also extend in front of hookflanges 24, so that none of the structure can shift in any direction.With ridge caps and edge trim installed in a conventional manner, theroof is finished in a complete sealed unit.

Under load the shingles are supported by the purlins and support clipsdirectly. With suitable spacing of the support clips, even thin lightweight shingles will support a person walking anywhere on the roof.

It is understood that minor variation from the form of the inventiondisclosed herein may be made without departure from the spirit and scopeof the invention, and that the specification and drawings are to beconsidered as merely illustrative rather than limiting.

I claim:

1. In a roof structure having transverse rafters, longitudinal purlinsspaced from front to rear of the rafters, said purlins having rearwardlyturned support flanges, a plurality of elongated shingle panels of awidth substantially equal to the spacing between said purlins, each ofsaid shingle panels having a rearwardly turned retaining flange belowthe forward edge thereof and a forwardly opening retaining channel abovethe rear edge thereof into which the retaining flange of an overlappingshingle panel interlocks, the front and rear edges of said shinglepanels resting on said support flanges, the improvement of a pluralityof support clips for the shingle panels, each support clip comprising:

a vertical web portion conforming in shape and extent substantially tothe vertical space defined by the shingle and a pair of adjacent purlinsand having a tread flange along the upper edge thereof engaging thelower surface of and supporting the respective shingle;

the forward end of said web portion having a prong extending under thesupport flange of one purlin, and a locking flange extending downwardlyin front of the retaining channel portion of the shingle panel restingon that purlin;

the rear end of said support clip having a preformed resilient lockingtongue frictionally engaging the support flange of the next rearwardlyspaced purlin, with the support clip substantially perpendicular betweenpurlins.

2. A support clip according to claim 1, wherein said prong has ahorizontally extending stabilizing tip below the support flange of thepurlin.

3. A support clip according to claim 1, wherein the forward end of saidweb portion has a notch above said prong to clear the purlin and theinterlocked edges of the shingle panels, said locking flange extendingdownward in front of said notch.

4. A support clip according to claim 1, wherein said tread flange has anextension resting on the purlin support flange, said locking tonguebeing a downward continuation of said extension.

5. A support clip according to claim 4, wherein said extension hasindented reinforcing flutes extending longitudinally into said treadflange.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,070,130 2/ 1937 Johnson 52-4722,607,449 8/ 1952 Daniels 52-27 8 3,131,513 5/1964 G'rigas ct al 525513,320,709 5/ 1967 Schroter et al 52-478 3,339,333 9/1967 Kovalcik 525313,343,312 9/1967 Tischuk 5294 HENRY C. SUTHERLAND, Primary Examiner.

